Key Maryland lawmakers oppose funding for APG balloons

Defense officials face opposition from Maryland lawmakers in plan to get JLENS balloons back in the air.

As the U.S. Defense Department seeks to again fly giant radar balloons from Aberdeen Proving Ground, two key Maryland lawmakers said Friday they oppose funding to resume the flights.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski said she had "grave reservations" about the safety of the balloons, and Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger said he also opposes the Defense Department's $27 million request to restart testing.

Ruppersberger, whose district includes Aberdeen Proving Ground, said he opposes restarting the program.

"The JLENS failure jeopardized the safety of my constituents, and I can't, in good conscience, support its continuation in such a highly populated area," said Ruppersberger, a Democrat.

The balloons were initially deployed at two sites at Aberbeen Proving Ground as part of a three-year test to see if they could effectively spot airborne threats.

Army investigators concluded that a series of mishaps led to the October snapping of the balloon's tether — which had been described as nearly unbreakable — after a system designed to account for changes in wind speed didn't work properly.

Another system designed to rapidly deflate the balloon if it did come free failed because it didn't have batteries installed, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Bottom line, the investigation indicated a lack of training, supervision and oversight," said Mikulski, also a Democrat. "I am really worried it could happen again."

The football field-size balloon eventually came to ground in Moreland Township, Pa., where the military worked for several days to recover it.

The balloon was badly damaged during the incident, and officials said $4 million would be needed for repairs. Another $2.2 million would pay for measures to "prevent a similar incident," according to the funding request.

In December, Army officials said they had received more than $300,000 in claims from people who say they suffered property damage from the balloon's errant flight.

At a Senate hearing Thursday, Adm. William E. Gortney, the head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said the system remains worthwhile at a time when the Russian military is demonstrating its cruise missile capability in Syria.

"It fills a capability gap that I do not have today," Gortney said.

Ruppersberger said he supports the idea of having a system to track airborne threats approaching the East Coast, but after talking to Carter and Gortney, as well as local leaders, he decided to oppose the funding request.

Spending the money would require congressional approval, after review by leaders of defense appropriations subcommittees and the armed services committees in the House and Senate.